Best cordless mini chainsaws

Top pick: Stihl GTA 26. It's the one mini saw built for pruning rather than for show: a 4-inch bar that's happy in green wood, a proper brand behind the chain and bar, and the strongest owner feedback of anything here. If you'll be cutting all afternoon, it's the one to buy.

Who the others suit:

• Worx 20V Mini Chainsaw — the value pick for light pruning and small limbs; light enough to wave around one-handed.
• Craftsman Battery Pruning Saw Kit — a pruning saw with a tip guard, best if you want a safer, more controlled cut near fences and walls.
• Sharper Image 1.5 lb Mini Chainsaw — the lightest of the bunch, for reaching up into shrubs and thin branches.
• GPED 6-inch with 2 batteries — for the biggest limbs here, if you'd rather have spare batteries than a premium name.
• Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hatchet — the serious tool for heavy, repeated pruning, at a serious price.

Whatever you pick: a 4–6 inch bar is right for pruning, and a second battery matters more than a longer bar.